COST OF SCHOOLING

Are you a parent with a child at a local school? Do you think that the costs of school uniform, sports and other equipment, school trips and other costs are higher than they should be?

Citizens Advice has been running a campaign called “Adding Up” to ensure that no child feels excluded or isolated as a result of the costs of schooling. There is a new Schools Admission Code, which all schools will need to implement by September 2008. This code says that schools should limit the expense of uniforms and other school items so that children from all backgrounds have a fair and equal chance of taking part fully in life at their preferred school. They can do a lot to keep these costs to a minimum. Uniforms should be available from a range of suppliers; other mandatory equipment should be kept to a minimum and used regularly; a second hand system should be available; schemes to assist with costs should be publicised. Bishops Waltham CAB has written to all head teachers in the Meon Valley area asking them to complete a survey form to show what they are doing. We also have some cards at the Bureau which allow you to give us your views: or you can ring or e-mail us if you prefer.

For more information about this campaign, go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk and click on the Adding Up campaign on the home page.

TENANCY DEPOSIT PROTECTION SCHEME

From 6 April 2007, anyone signing a tenancy agreement should check with their landlord or agent how their deposit will be protected. The tenant still pays the deposit to the landlord or agent but the money must be safeguarded through a Government approved tenancy deposition protection scheme. The landlord has 14 days to tell you details of the scheme so you can check your money is protected. If your landlord or agent has not given you details you can contact the Tenancy Deposit protection helpline yourself to check the situation.

There are sanctions against landlords who don’t comply with the law. You could take your landlord to court and if your landlord has not given you details of the scheme or has not put the deposit in an authorised scheme, the court will order the landlord to repay the deposit or pay it into a scheme. The court must also order the landlord to pay the tenant a fine of three times the deposit within 14 days. However, you may decide not to pursue this course of action until you are ready to leave. In addition, landlords who haven’t put the deposit in a scheme will not be allowed to use the ‘notice only’ ground to get an order for possession of their property.

So if you are given notice to quit by your landlord, it’s very important to check immediately that your deposit is protected; if it’s not you should get advice as you may have a defence against eviction.  If you move out of your home and your deposit has not been safeguarded in a scheme and your landlord won’t repay it, then you won’t benefit from the new protection. Your only course of action would be to take the landlord to court and try and get your deposit back. That’s why it is so important to check your position before that happens. If in doubt, get advice from your local CAB, or go to Communities and Local Government web site at www.direct.gov.uk/tenancydeposit or ring 0845 609 0696.

 NHS DENTISTS CAMPAIGN

NHS DENTAL PROVISION

Citizens Advice reported on a new survey on 16th January 2008.  This survey found that an estimated 7 million people cannot obtain NHS dental provision, compared with Government estimates of 2 million.  Go to www.citizensadvice.org.uk Campaigning for Change/Latest news

Citizens Advice also carried out a national survey of NHS dental provision in the UK in 2006. It found that there were many "desert" areas, one of which was Petersfield, which included the Meon Valley. To read the national report, click here.

This Bureau carried out a local survey in late 2006 with the help of 230 people who completed our survey form. Click here to read our report.  Thank you to all those who took part. One person who completed a survey form for us was interviewed on BBC national radio and television news as part of the publicity of the national report.

Mark Oaten, MP for Winchester and the Meon Valley, held a meeting with Hampshire NHS Primary Care Trust and Winchester and Bishops Waltham CABs on 26 February 2007 to discuss the findings of the CAB surveys and to explore the way ahead.

The PCT took over responsibility for NHS dental provision in the county from the Department of Health in April 2006. They received the same funding as the Department spent in 2005/6 and needed to find money from other parts of their budget to expand dental provision. The PCT are currently undertaking a study to establish where the “deserts” are in the county so that they can try to target these areas. Unfortunately, they do not expect this study to be completed later in 2008. The Government has now provided 11% more funding to PCT's for dentistry and we will be seeking to find out how Hampshire PCT intend to use this when their study is complete.

 If you wish to find a NHS dentist, you can try calling the PCT’s dental helpline on 0845 050 8345. They usually know of dentists who are taking new NHS patients but not necessarily in a convenient location. If you need a dentist in a particular town, you will probably need to ring the helpline regularly until one becomes available. Alternatively, www.nhs.uk provides details of local NHS dentists and whether they are taking new patients.

RURAL POST OFFICES CAMPAIGN

We collected 116 survey forms during February 2007 from our clients and customers of some of the local post offices to support the Citizens Advice national campaign to retain rural post offices.  People who receive social security benefits or state pensions have always been able to go to their post office to draw their cash.  They have also been able to pay their TV licence fee there.  The Government is planning to withdraw all these services from the post office and make people use banks and cash machines.  These services help sustain the small rural post office which plays a vital part in keeping the rural community connected.  The Government reviewed the subsidy for the small post office network and instructed Post Office Ltd to close 2,500 small post offices, subject to certain criteria and local consultation. For Hampshire, that consultation was carried out in October 2007.  Despite receiving representations from many organisations including this Bureau, Post Office Ltd made very few changes to their plans. Consequently, post offices in Curdridge, Durley and Newtown Bishops Waltham will be closed very soon and West Meon opening hours will be drastically reduced. 

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